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You Can’t Read Romance Novels in Geneva

We learn from the state-register of March 13, 1559, that romance-reading was altogether prohibited in Geneva. It is said:—“Inasmuch as many persons are in the habit of reading Amadis de Gaule, which contains much that is licentious and wicked, let them be gravely admonished, and let the said book be abolished and destroyed.” Shortly after Calvin’s time, Henry Stephens was excommunicated and imprisoned, because he had written a dissolute book. In conclusion, we refer to a little work entitled ‘The Life of the Christian, and a View of Eternal Life,’ as affording a further proof of Calvin’s spiritual feelings, and care for souls. – Paul Henry

Indeed, those romance novels are nasty. And gross. Some books need to be banned. Not Brunner’s or Bultmann’s by any means, but we can all agree that NT Wright’s definitely need to be.